Senior Mental Health Liaison Worker Older Adult Mental Health

Job overview

Mental Health Nurse with experience in working with older adults. The post holder will manage a caseload and provide structured guidance, supervision, and support to the broader neighbourhood team, including other mental health professionals, GPs, and staff from the voluntary sector.

This role involves promoting awareness and best practices for older adults facing mild to moderate mental health challenges, as well as those with more severe conditions.

The post holder will actively encourage positive attitudes and a consistent approach to the assessment and treatment of this patient group.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will be responsible for overseeing a segment of Neighborhood Services and Primary Care Networks, ensuring high-quality support for older individuals facing mental health challenges. This role will require close collaboration with current services as well as the development of connections with other pertinent community resources. Experience in an Older Adults Community Mental Health setting is essential, as the position includes guiding and supporting colleagues who work with this population.

Responsibilities will include contributing to neighborhood referral meetings and serving as a liaison between the neighborhood team and various older adult mental health teams, including CMHT, Integrated Care, and the Diagnostic Memory Clinic. The post-holder will conduct assessments and interventions, providing structured guidance and advice to other mental health professionals, GPs, and staff from the voluntary sector regarding their practices with this specific demographic.

The role also involves raising awareness and promoting best practices related to older adults experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties, as well as those with more severe conditions. The post-holder will actively encourage positive attitudes and a consistent approach towards the assessment and treatment of this patient group.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

- Screen referrals from GPs and other professionals for individual assessments, and participate in daily referral meetings. - Conduct mental health assessments for older adults with mental health conditions who do not qualify for the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). - Serve as a liaison with Primary Care Services, Adult Social Care (ASC), and Neighborhood teams. - Escalate cases to the specialized older adult CMHT, integrated care team, or diagnostic memory clinic when the patient's needs align better with these services. - Ensure that any adult safeguarding concerns are raised and handled according to ELFTS and ASC policies, following Section 42 of the Care Act. - Operate independently to make clinical judgments, assess alternative actions, and provide advice on clinical cases concerning older adult patients and those with comorbidities. - Offer guidance to neighborhood teams on effectively addressing the needs of older adults. - Advocate for the use of the Mental Capacity Act, including assessments and documentation in care home settings, by offering advice and direct support with case examples. - Take the lead in the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of interventions and treatments for individuals aged 18 and over who present with mental health issues within a designated geographical area or as required by the Service, ensuring that evidence-based practices are consistently applied. - Conduct assessments for individuals with complex needs and comorbidities associated with older age, collaborating with relevant professionals to identify their needs and establish comprehensive treatment plans.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.